I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 2 Secondly: If Christ do therefore forsake his People, that he may not forsake them, and hath a design of Love, and nothing but of Love upon them in his forsaking; then have they no just cause for their Discouragements. Now I pray, What is the reason why God doth forsake his People for a time, or a moment? hath he any de••gn but Love upon them? Doth he not therefore withdraw himself from them, that he might draw them to himself? Doth he not therefore hide his face for a moment, that he may not turn his back upon them for ever? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that they might die unto all the world, and long after Heaven, where there is no forsaking? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that they might die unto the way of sense, and learn to live by Faith, which is the proper work of this Life? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that in this Winter of their Desertion, the Weeds, and Vermin of their sins, may be killed, and mortified? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that he may see their Love to him? In time of his Presence, we have the sense of his Love to us; but in the time of his absence, then he seeth, and we our selves have the sense of our Love to him. Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that their very Joys, and Comforts may be more fervent, exalted, and enlarged? It is our Nature to rejoice most in a Comfort, when it is redeemed from the hand of Death, and recovered from loss: The wise men, when they saw the lost Star again, then ⟨p. 154⟩they rejoiced with exceeding great joy; Did they not rejoice i• the Star before? Surely they did: But they rejoiced more, even with exceeding great joy, when they had found the lost Star. And this is our Nature; we rejoice most in the finding of lost mercies. Now the Lord Christ knows our Nature, and therefore, that he may raise our joy, our praise, our thankfulness, for his Presence, Face, and Manifestation of his Love, he doth sometimes withdraw them. So that in all his withdrawings, he hath a Design of Love upon our souls; have we any reason then to be much discouraged, though deserted?

Answ. 2 Secondly: If Christ do therefore forsake his People, that he may not forsake them, and hath a design of Love, and nothing but of Love upon them in his forsaking; then have they no just cause for their Discouragements. Now I pray, What is the reason why God doth forsake his People for a time, or a moment? hath he any degn but Love upon them? Doth he not therefore withdraw himself from them, that he might draw them to himself? Doth he not therefore hide his face for a moment, that he may not turn his back upon them for ever? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that they might die unto all the world, and long after Heaven, where there is no forsaking? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that they might die unto the way of sence, and learn to live by Faith, which is the proper work of this Life? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that in this Winter of their Desertion, the Weeds, and Vermin of their sins, may be killed, and mortified? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that he may see their Love to him? In time of his Presence, we have the sence of his Love to us; but in the time of his absence, then he seeth, and we our selves have the sence of our Love to him. Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that their very Joyes, and Comforts may be more fervent, exalted, and enlarged? It is our Nature to rejoyce most in a Comfort, when it is redeemed from the hand of Death, and recovered from loss: The wise men, when they saw the lost Star again, then